Application Swat model for evaluation of water quality in the Cong river basin

Abstract

    The paper aims to simulate the flow and water quality of the Cong River using SWAT (Soil and Water Assessment Tool) model. As the main land use types within the basin are forestry and agriculture, selected parameters used for water quality assessment include organic components such as BOD, Nitrite (NO2 - ), Nitrate (NO3 - ), Ammonium (NH4 + ), and Phosphate (PO4 3- ). The model was calibrated using SUFI-2 method integrated in SWAT-CUP tool. The results showed that the SWAT model provided good simulation of flow and water quality in the study area, in which R2 and NSE values were greater than 0.5, PBIAS was less than 5% for flow and 18.4% for water quality. The calibrated model, therefore, can be applied in flow and water quality forecasting for the Cong River basin in the future, as well as being a tool to better support water resources management of this basin.